WhatsApp bans unofficial app users

21 January 2015 Last updated at 12:24 By Leo Kelion Technology desk editor

WhatsApp is imposing 24-hour lock-outs on people trying to access its service via an unauthorised Android app.

The Facebook-owned messaging service said that it had acted against users of WhatsApp Plus because of concerns that the program might cause private data to be leaked to third-parties.

The unofficial app offers extra ways to customise how conversations appear.

Experts say Android users should be cautious about where they download apps from.

WhatsApp recently reported it had 700 million users sending an average of 30 billion messages a day. It currently charges a $0.99 (65p) annual fee to users who sign up to the service after their first 12 months of using it.

"Our goal is always to keep WhatsApp fast and secure for the people who use it - it's the most important thing we do," said a spokesman for the firm.

"Third-parties that have built unauthorised functionality on top of WhatsApp create issues for people including lost messages.

"This goes against the experience we work hard to give people and we won't let it continue. Starting today, we are taking aggressive action against unauthorised apps and alerting the people who use them."

The effort coincides with the introduction of the ability to access WhatsApp from the Google Chrome web browser, as an alternative to the app. This will not, however, work on Apple's iPhones or iPads.

Cease and desist letter

According to one app store, WhatsApp Plus had itself been downloaded more than 35 million times since its 2012 releases by a Spanish developer, who called himself Rafalense.

Security consultant Graham Cluley said that figure sounded "surprisingly high", but acknowledged there was no independent way to verify it.

WhatsApp Plus' own website appears to be offline at this time.

But the moderator of a development community, which had supported it, used Google Plus to indicate that work on the software would now be put on hold.

"We have received a cease and desist letter from WhatsApp and we are obligated to remove all download links and unfortunately delete this community," he wrote.

"[I] am really sorry for this but it's out of our hands and WhatsApp has pushed us into a corner that we can't escape this time. It was a fun ride but it has come to an end.

"Deepest regards from Rafalense and me and all the WhatsApp Plus team for your support."

Twenty-four hour bans

WhatsApp Plus offers a way to use colours and background images in chat conversations that are unavailable in the official app.

In addition, it allows users to increase the size limit on attached video and sound files and also lets them prevent others being able to see when they last logged into the service - a feature it used to charge a "donation" to unlock.

To access the features, smartphone owners must first uninstall the official WhatsApp app if it is already on their handsets.

Facebook is in turn urging people using WhatsApp Plus to delete it and install the official app via Google's Play store. However, even if they do so, they are told they cannot access the service for further 24 hours because they violated its terms and conditions.

'Maintaining control'

WhatsApp Plus was not available from Google Play - the Android developer's own store - but was promoted on several smaller alternatives.

"People should be careful about third-party stores," commented Dr Joss Wright from the Oxford Internet Institute.

"There are levels of quality control that are implemented by Google, which withdraws apps that are detected as being not completely legitimate, and indeed by Apple, which is incredibly restrictive about what it allows on the iOS store.

"Such apps could bring with them security bugs."

But he added that Facebook also had other incentives to stop independent apps latching onto its WhatsApp platform.

"That could potentially prevent it from adding services later for an added cost," he said.

"Or if it wants to add adverts later and ensure they are being served to the people who should be seeing them, then that it needs to maintain control and prevent the rules that it has set from being bypassed by third-party clients."

23.34 | 0 komentar | Read More

Windows 10 to be free and get headset

21 January 2015 Last updated at 20:23 By Leo Kelion Technology desk editor

Please turn on JavaScript. Media requires JavaScript to play.

WATCH: HoloLens blends 3D transparent graphics with the real world

Microsoft has revealed that Windows 10 will bring its voice-controlled assistant Cortana to PCs.

It also unveiled a headset that it said would one day project the operating system over views of the real world.

In addition, the firm announced that the OS upgrade would be offered free of charge for devices running Windows 8, Windows 7 and Windows Phone.

The offer, which is limited to the Windows 10's first year of release, may aid its adoption.

It marks a change in strategy from Microsoft's previous policy of charging for major updates, and could help avoid a repeat of the relatively slow uptake of Windows 8.

Please turn on JavaScript. Media requires JavaScript to play.

WATCH: Microsoft's Alex Kipman introduces the company's concept video for Windows Holographic

One analyst suggested the firm had needed to renew interest in its ecosystem.

"Overall, we know that about only about 10% of computers are running Windows 8 and the adoption rate among companies is similar or lower," said Frank Gillett, an analyst at the Forrester consultancy.

"Developers are not paying much attention to Windows for mass market consumer apps, and you could even argue that for enterprise software most of the energy is going into mobile apps for iPad and Android tablets.

"Windows 10 is in effect a huge invitation to software developers to write exciting, powerful applications that will draw consumers.

"My hunch is that they can succeed in getting a new generation of PC and tablet applications. The challenge is getting people interested in its phones."

Holographic helmet

Microsoft's chief executive Satya Nadella said the HoloLens headset represented a "magical moment" of "category creation" that developers lived for.

The wearable tech's augmented reality see-through lenses represent a major leap forward over Google Glass and other existing eyewear - assuming the machine lives up to its on-stage demo, in which computer-generated elements appeared in the world surrounding the wearer.

The company said that the final version of the machine would not need to be linked to other devices to work, and should be released within Windows 10's "timeframe".

It revealed Nasa was already working with the kit, and said the US space agency hoped to start controlling its Mars rovers with a prototype version as soon as July.

Other demos involving the machine included the wearer:

• playing Minecraft with the video game's graphics appearing over living room furniture
• seeing a Skype video appear as if it was taking place on a building wall
• creating a model of a drone, which she saw in front of her face while shaping it by moving her hands and giving voice commands

"The true innovation HoloLens delivers will be determined by developer commitment in the months and years to come," commented Geoff Blaber from the CCS Insight consultancy.

"Windows 10 is a defining moment for Satya Nadella early in his tenure as CEO.

"The collaboration required to deliver HoloLens to market is an encouraging sign that he's breaking down the silos that slowed innovation and stalled execution in recent years."

Cortana on PCs

Windows 10 brings the same operating system to devices of all sizes, rather than having different ones for PCs/tablets, mobile phones and the firm's Xbox games console.

One of the key features that consumers will be able to use on PCs from "day one" is Cortana - the voice-controlled tool previously limited to Windows Phone handsets.

Please turn on JavaScript. Media requires JavaScript to play.

WATCH: Microsoft executive Joe Belfiore demonstrates the firm's Cortana assistant on PC

Microsoft executive Joe Belfiore demonstrated how the software could be told to:

• bring up Powerpoint presentation documents
• locate photos taken during a specific month
• dictate and send emails
• tell the user whether or not the weather forecast indicates they should wear a coat later
• show where their car is parked

In addition, Mr Belfiore showed how the software could be used to respond to requests that had been typed, rather than spoken into a PC.

Windows 8 had been criticised by some for placing so much focus on touch-centric commands rather than the mouse and keyboard.

But Mr Gillett said he thought the addition of Cortana's voice controls could prove more popular.

"Voice is a going to complement other ways of interacting with the computer not be a substitute," he said.

"If you had to say every command instead of touching or clicking, then that would be annoying.

"But if you can quickly say to Cortana, for example, schedule lunch with my mum next Tuesday, then that is powerful."

Browsing with Spartan

Mr Belfiore also highlighted one of the core benefits of Windows 10: a single app will run on multiple types of device, with the user interface reformatting itself to suit the machine it is running on, rather than having a different program for phones, tablets and PCs.

Please turn on JavaScript. Media requires JavaScript to play.

WATCH: Microsoft executive Joe Belfiore demonstrates the company's new web browser, codenamed Project Spartan

He showed how this meant more advanced versions of the firm's popular Office programs Excel, Powerpoint and Word could be brought to handsets running Windows 10 than were possible under Windows Phone 8. He also demonstrated a new "universal" Photos app that collates and sorts pictures taken with different devices.

Mr Belfiore also confirmed reports that the firm's Internet Explorer web browser was being replaced by a new program codenamed Project Spartan.

This will have Cortana built-in to allow voice commands and provide extra personalised information - such as directions to a restaurant whose website is being looked at.

The software also includes a new "noting mode", which will let users scribble or type over a page and then share it with others.

"Project Spartan shows a new Microsoft that is not afraid to depart from legacy in order to deliver a better experience," remarked Carolina Milanesi from Kantar Worldpanel Comtech.

The new system also introduces the ability to stream Xbox One video games from the console to any other Windows 10 PC or tablet on the same wi-fi network.

This means that users will be able to play any game in their Xbox library on another device in another room of their home if the property's main TV is being watched by someone else.

The facility is similar to the service Sony offers for its PlayStation 4 games machine that allows it to stream titles to Xperia phones and tablets and the PlayStation TV mini-console.

Analysis: Richard Taylor, North America technology correspondent

Many of the headline features of today's announcements were widely expected.

Some - like voice dictation on mobile, a cloud-based music service and auto-enhance for photos - are strikingly similar to those already available on rival operating systems.

But others are genuinely innovative - quite aside from its awe-inspiring holographic ecosystem.

Gamers will appreciate making the traditional gaming experiences more social and cross-platform.

Heavy web users may be tempted by the collaboration and offline features of the Spartan web browser, as well as the deep integration of Cortana.

And the addition of this powerful natural voice assistant on the desktop is groundbreaking too.

But the case for voice interaction on PCs is not as well-proven as it is on mobile - and Cortana needs to be well executed, otherwise the tried and tested keyboard and mouse could still prove too tempting for users.

The key question: will the combination of the familiarity of past versions of Windows and an enhanced feature set be enough to tempt users to upgrade?

Offering Windows 10 free for the first year is a huge incentive to kickstart adoption.

Windows 10 is well positioned to capitalise on the resurgence of PCs.

But Microsoft is hoping for more than this: it needs the OS to provide a much-needed boost for its mobile ecosystem - and in this regard Microsoft is betting that its universal approach to coding apps will be enough to tempt users away from rivals.

Developers: over to you.

23.34 | 0 komentar | Read More

Google robot severs its power cord

21 January 2015 Last updated at 15:19 By Leo Kelion Technology desk editor

A redesigned version of Atlas - one of the world's most advanced robots - has been revealed by the Pentagon.

The android gains more advanced wrists, allowing it to turn door handles without having to move its entire arm.

But the key change is the inclusion of a battery pack, allowing it to function without an attached power cord.

The addition means the Google-owned machine qualifies for the final round of a robotics competition run by the US military's R&D unit, Darpa.

Seven of the 20 teams expected to take part in June's event intend to use Atlas. They will distinguish themselves by adding their own software to the machine and adopting different strategies to cope with the challenges posed.

The final event's rules state that the human-supervised robots taking part cannot be connected to power cords, fall arrestors, or wired communications.

"Being cordless is absolutely essential for operation in the field," robotics expert Prof Noel Sharkey told the BBC.

"A tethered robot would easily become snared and tangled anywhere but the simplest environment.

"It is crucial for full robot autonomy and it will greatly enhance the operational scope required by Darpa."

Bigger, better

The latest version of Atlas is slightly taller and heavier than before, standing 6ft 2in (1.88m) high and weighing 156.4kg (345lb).

According to its manufacturer, Google's Boston Dynamics division, 75% of the humanoid machine is new - only its lower legs and feet remain unchanged.

The inclusion of a 3.7kWh lithium-ion battery is said to have the potential to last about one hour if the machine is carrying out "mixed tasks" including walking, climbing stairs and using tools.

However, a new, quieter variable-pressure pump system added to machine will run down the power pack more quickly if used at its maximum setting,

"The operator will be able to run the robot on a mid-pressure setting for most operations to save power, and then apply bursts of maximum pressure when additional force is needed," explained Gill Pratt, programme manager for the Darpa Robotics Challenge.

"The teams are going to have to game out the right balance of force and battery life to complete the course."

Other upgrades to Atlas include:

• Repositioned arms and shoulder to let the robot see its hands in motion, which should help its operators control it
• A wireless router in its head to provide a radio link to the teams
• Resized motors in its hips, knees and back to give them extra strength

Hole in the wall

Darpa's competition is designed to further development of robots that could be used to assist humans in disaster zones.

Please turn on JavaScript. Media requires JavaScript to play.

MIT experienced problems keeping an earlier version of Atlas upright

During the competition, operators will not be allowed to physically intervene if their robots fall over or otherwise get stuck.

Higher scores will be given for completing tasks more quickly, such as removing debris from a doorway, cutting a hole in a wall using a cordless drill and driving a utility vehicle.

A team from the Florida Institute for Human & Machine Cognition came second using an earlier version of Atlas in the previous round of the contest, held in December 2013.

The winner, however, was Schaft, a robot created by a spin-off from the University of Tokyo - which is also owned by Google.

23.34 | 0 komentar | Read More

Fake Facebook page costs US $134,000

21 January 2015 Last updated at 16:07

The US Justice Department is to pay a woman $134,000 (£88,640) after making a fake Facebook page that contained a photograph of her half-clothed.

Sondra Arquiett had sued the government after it had suggested she had "implicitly consented" to the creation of a page using her identity since she had previously granted officers access to her mobile phone

The DoJ has now settled the dispute, but has not admitted wrongdoing.

The case had raised privacy concerns.

Although the US government has not ruled out using similar tactics in the future, it has acknowledged the criticism it faced.

"[A] review is ongoing, but Department of Justice leadership has already met with law enforcement agencies to make clear the necessity of protecting the privacy and safety of third-parties in every aspect of our criminal investigations," said a spokesman.

A lawyer for Ms Arquiett said she believed officials now recognised the use of the fake page had been "totally inappropriate".

Drugs probe

The case dates back to July 2010, when Ms Arquiett, a restaurant waitress, was arrested and accused of being involved in a drugs ring.

She pleaded guilty to conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute cocaine, and was later sentenced to six months of weekend incarceration.

At the time of her arrest, Ms Arquiett surrendered her mobile phone and consented to officers accessing its data to help them with related criminal investigations.

This included an investigation into her boyfriend, who was suspected of co-ordinating drug sales. He later pleaded guilty to conspiracy to distribute cocaine.

Ms Arquiett said she was not, however, notified that this operation would involve the creation of a "publicly available" Facebook page in the name of Sondra Prince, an alias she had used.

It included photographs of her posing on a BMW car, a picture of her wearing only a bra and underwear, as well as images of her son and niece.

The fake page was used to send a "friend" request to help catch the boyfriend. The US government denied it had been made "publicly available" in a wider sense. However, the Buzzfeed news site and the Associated Press news agency were both able to access the page before it was taken offline.

Ms Arquiett sued the government in 2013 saying she had suffered fear and emotional distress because the page indicated she had wilfully co-operated with the drugs ring investigation.

Her case was supported by digital rights group, the Electronic Frontier Foundation.

"If I'm co-operating with law enforcement, and law enforcement says, 'Can I search your phone?' - my expectation is that they will search the phone for evidence of a crime, not that they will take things off my phone and use it in another context," said Nate Cardozo, a lawyer at the organisation.

Facebook itself had also voiced its displeasure, noting that it explicitly bans fake profiles on its site.

"Facebook has long made clear that law enforcement authorities are subject to these policies," the firm's chief security officer Joe Sullivan wrote to the Drug Enforcement Administration last year, which was responsible for the page's creation.

"We regard the conduct to be a knowing and serious breach of Facebook's terms and policies, and the account created by the agent in the Arquiett matter has been disabled.

"Accordingly, Facebook asks that the DEA immediately confirm that it has ceased all activities on Facebook that involve the impersonation of others or that otherwise violate our terms and policies."

23.34 | 0 komentar | Read More

eBay to cut 2,400 jobs this quarter

22 January 2015 Last updated at 01:14

US e-commerce giant eBay is planning to cut 2,400 jobs in the first quarter, the company said on Wednesday.

The move to slash about 7% of its workforce comes ahead of a plan to split from its online payment PayPal business this year.

EBay made the announcement in its fourth quarter earnings report, which had topped expectations on Wall Street.

It said in a statement it wanted to refocus the businesses and ensure it was "set-up to compete and win".

The job cuts will range across its eBay Marketplaces, PayPal, and eBay Enterprise units.

Business shake up

The tech giant also said it has made an agreement with activist investor, Carl Icahn, to give investors a greater say in its PayPal business once it is spun off in the second half of this year.

The billionaire investor had been trying to gather support for the proposed split before the firm's annual shareholder meeting in May last year.

EBay also announced that it was considering a sale or public offering of its enterprise unit.

Amid the business shake up, the firm forecast earnings between 68 cents and 71 cents a share in the first quarter, while revenue was expected to hit $4.35bn (£2.87bn) to $4.45bn. Both forecasts fell short of market expectations.

Its profit in the fourth quarter rose to $936m on $4.9bn in revenue.

But, the company's New York listed shares rose 2.6% in after-hours trade.

23.34 | 0 komentar | Read More

Man arrested over Madonna hack

22 January 2015 Last updated at 04:06

An Israeli man has been arrested on suspicion of hacking into the computers of pop stars including Madonna and selling unreleased songs online.

Israeli police said the man was suspected of stealing work from several unnamed international stars.

A private investigator connected to the case confirmed Madonna was among them.

The pop star said she was "profoundly grateful" to those who helped arrest the hacker, and described the experience as devastating and hurtful.

"I deeply appreciate my fans who have provided us with pertinent information and continue to do so regarding leaks of my music. Like any citizen, I have the right to privacy," Madonna said in a Facebook post.

She rush-released a number of new songs last month after demos and unfinished mixes from her new album Rebel Heart made their way online.

Continue reading the main story

The suspect had broken into the computers of a number of international artists"

End Quote Israeli police spokesman

Her manager Guy Oseary said the "devastating" action had prompted the surprise release of six songs from Rebel Heart in December, months earlier than planned.

'Violation'

Asher Wizman, the owner of a private investigation firm in Israel, told the Reuters news agency he was contacted by Madonna's team several weeks ago after rumours of an Israeli connection to the leak.

"Our investigator found her computers, at home and at a studio, were broken into from a computer in Israel," he told Reuters.

"We tracked down the computer, and the man behind it. After gathering enough evidence, we turned to the police and he was arrested today."

Police did not immediately name the 39-year-old man, although local reports identified him as a former contestant on one of Israel's TV talent shows.

"He is suspected of computer hacking, copyright violation and fraudulent receipt of goods," a police spokesman said.

"During the investigation it appeared the suspect had broken into the computers of a number of international artists, stole unreleased demos and final tracks and sold them over the internet."

No charges have yet been filed.

Madonna is due to perform songs from her new album at the Grammy Awards next month, while she is also rumoured to be appearing at the Brits.

Rebel Heart sees her working with songwriter and producer Ryan Tedder and dance producer Diplo, who said he had written three "amazing smashes" with the pop star.

The arrest in Israel comes a day after Bjork was forced to release her new album Vulnicura two months ahead of schedule after it leaked over the weekend.

23.34 | 0 komentar | Read More

Twitter introduces recap service

Fed up of having to scroll through your Twitter feed to see what you've missed?

Fear not. The site is rolling out a recap service for its iOS app from Thursday.

The "while you were away" tweets, first mentioned in November, will appear when you open the official app on an Apple device.

Your feed will now show you a snapshot of popular or relevant tweets that you missed from accounts you follow since last checking in.

The company says the feature will be launching on its Android app and twitter.com soon.

In a blog post, Twitter explained: "Our goal is to help you keep up - or catch up - with your world, no matter how much time you spend on Twitter.

"With a few improvements to the home timeline we think we can do a better job of delivering on that promise without compromising the real time nature of Twitter."

The change was first announced by boss Dick Costolo in November.

The company's stock price rose after the announcement, something vitally important to Twitter's financial future given the competition it faces from other social media companies.

Follow @BBCNewsbeat on Twitter, BBCNewsbeat on Instagram and Radio1Newsbeat on YouTube

23.34 | 0 komentar | Read More

Drug drone crashes on Mexican border

22 January 2015 Last updated at 11:28

A drone carrying illegal drugs has crashed near a US border crossing in Mexico.

The quadcopter carrying 3kg (6.6lb) of methamphetamine was found in pieces in a supermarket car park near San Ysidro.

Mexican police said the drone had probably crashed because the drugs onboard had been too heavy for it.

They added that drones were increasingly being used to ferry illicit items across the border with the US.

Home-grown drones

In a statement, the Tijuana police said the drugs had been divided into six packets crudely taped to the body of the drone.

After receiving an anonymous call about the crashed craft, Tijuana police recovered the drone and are now examining it to see if they can trace who set it flying and where it began its journey.

The statement said the drone was a prototype that could be given GPS co-ordinates and would then travel to that location autonomously. No pilot was needed to guide it.

The Tijuana police said drones were just one of the many innovative ways drug-smugglers were using to ferry illicit substances across the border. Other methods included catapults, tunnels and ultra-light aircraft.

Last year, the US Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA) said drones were becoming so popular as a method of drug transport that some gangs were manufacturing their own.

Engineers were hired to make the devices for the drug cartels so they could carry more weight than those that were commercially available, it said.

The drones were making more than 150 trips a year, suggested figures from the DEA.

23.34 | 0 komentar | Read More

Kim Dotcom releases Skype competitor

22 January 2015 Last updated at 13:53 By Kevin Rawlinson BBC News

Internet entrepreneur Kim Dotcom has released an encrypted chat service, called MegaChat, to compete with the Microsoft-owned Skype.

The release would be rolled out gradually, beginning with video-calling on Thursday, he said.

The news came as it emerged a top EU official wants companies to be required by law to hand over encryption keys.

The EU counter-terrorism coordinator's proposal follows a similar call by Prime Minister David Cameron.

In a document leaked by the civil liberties group Statewatch, Gilles de Kerchove said encryption "increasingly makes lawful interception by the relevant national authorities technically difficult or even impossible".

He wrote: "The [European] Commission should be invited to explore rules obliging internet and telecommunications companies operating in the EU to provide, under certain conditions as set out in the relevant national laws and in full compliance with fundamental rights, access of the relevant national authorities to communications (ie share encryption keys)."

Mr De Kerchove refused to comment on the leaked document.

Earlier this month, Mr Cameron said he wanted internet firms to allow the government to view encrypted messages in order to aid the security services.

But his plans to revive the Communications Data Bill, dubbed the "snoopers' charter", were criticised by civil liberties groups and the Deputy Prime Minister, Nick Clegg.

Announcing the launch of the beta version of his MegaChat service, Mr Dotcom said that video-calling would gradually be followed by a text-chat service and video-conferencing.

About three years ago, Mr Dotcom's Megaupload site was seized and he was arrested in an armed raid on his New Zealand house.

Announcing the launch of MegaChat on Twitter, he noted the timeline that lead from the raid to Thursday's announcement, highlighting the launch of his new site, Mega, and a political party in the subsequent years.

And he wrote: "#Mega offers a security bounty again. Please report any security flaw to us. We'll fix it and reward you. Thanks for helping."

Mr Dotcom still faces extradition from New Zealand to the United States on copyright infringement charges.

In November last year, he said he was "broke" as a result of the consequent legal fight. He put the cost at $10m (£6.4m) since his arrest in 2012.

23.34 | 0 komentar | Read More

Blackberry seeks aid on app making

22 January 2015 Last updated at 14:46

App makers should be required to make software for Blackberry handsets, says the boss of the phone company.

In an open letter to members of the US Congress, John Chen said rivals should be obliged to make their widely used apps available on Blackberry handsets.

He said the other firms and developers were "discriminating" against Blackberry by not making the apps.

His comments drew criticism from experts, one of whom called his claims "ludicrous".

'Discriminatory practice'

In his letter, Mr Chen sought to expand the definition of "net neutrality" to encompass more than just the way data travels to peoples' homes.

Net neutrality is the principle that there should be no paid prioritisation for net traffic. This means no company should be able to gain a commercial advantage by paying ISPs to have its data reach people faster.

Mr Chen said the same should apply to apps on smartphones, so companies would be legally obliged to make versions of their programs equally available for all handsets. The current situation was discriminatory, said Mr Chen, because some app makers were not making versions of popular apps for many phones, including Blackberry devices.

As an example, he said, this "discrimination" meant Blackberry users did not have a version of Apple's iMessage or Netflix's streaming service available to them.

The actions of these discriminatory companies was creating a "two-tiered" system in which users of some devices had access to far more content and applications than others, he said.

"These are precisely the sort of discriminatory practices that neutrality advocates have criticised at the carrier level," wrote Mr Chen, adding that app makers should be "mandated" to cover Blackberry and other platforms too.

The letter has received widespread criticism in the technology world, with some saying Mr Chen's argument was "utterly warped".

Stuart Miles, founder of gadget news site Pocket-lint, said the call to oblige others to make apps for Blackberry was "ludicrous" and showed what little understanding Mr Chen had of the mobile world.

"He's asking someone that he does not pay, to work on their own time to develop something for his platform that might have the potential for making money but might well not," he said.

"If you have an enticing, exciting platform, that's when people will start developing for you," said Mr Miles.

Martin Garner, senior analyst at market research firm CCS Insight, said many developers had to make hard decisions about how to use their limited resources when developing apps.

"As wearables, connected cars and smart TVs come into the market, each with multiple operating systems, the number of versions they may need to produce is growing," he said.

Mr Garner also questioned how such app regulation would work, who would decide which developers were included and what platforms were covered.

"Adding regulations to force them to support other operating systems would not obviously improve the position," he said.

23.34 | 0 komentar | Read More